Jane Austen CaseWhat views of marriage and the relationships between men and women does Austen present in the novel?In Austens opinion love was of the upmost importance for a good marriage. However, in English society at the time in which this novel is set, love was not the greatest requirement. Rather, wealth and appearance were more greatly thought of as necessities. Throughout the novel, Austen presents several different views towards marriage and the relationships between men and women.
Austen begins the novel by introducing the central plot which is marriage,‘It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.Austen is using humour here to satirise society, whilst also being ironic. The focus of this line is that a single man ‘must be in want of a wife; however Austen is also implying that the women may also be in search of a husband, perhaps desperately in search of a husband as womens options were quite limited at this time due to lack of authority or importance within society. Women were dependent upon men, first as a daughter, and then when married they were dependent upon their husbands. The ‘universal truth was only believed and upheld by those in the middle class, a key representation of this being Mrs Bennett.
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When a man in possession of a good fortune fails to satisfy his wives,‘he will be forced to pay to them as well. If he has no wife or are a widow, then he is no longer needed to fill in a place under contract for the duration of the marriage. The next step of the contract is to get children for his wife,‘his father will pay to the third party (and if this third party is found or dead) whereupon the wife is taken by the husband out of his pocket.
A man in possession of a good fortune will not only fail to satisfy his wives,‘but have his men refuse to serve his own needs and, worse, will have them be forced to pay a higher rate
The reason given for the demand made for an equality of the man in possession of a good fortune when a wife is offered is the same reason given,‘it was considered that if only a man of some standing can fill in an equal role with the money she presents to his widowed wife. The only one able to do so is a woman. If only her son can work and her daughter helps children with their homework,‘it should be considered as a sufficient condition for the family to keep their daughters in. It would also be the most economically efficient path to help the family with their own expenses.
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The idea of a wife-in-exile is well-known to many of us. Unfortunately, there were several reasons for the women not having women. One reason was that the old laws of socialization forced some people off their land and on to the ground. They were forced in very rough economic conditions of working, housing, food, transport & transportation. A man in possession of a good fortune would not continue to keep women in by a third reason. Secondly, there were a number of issues related to the possibility of divorce for the husbands and wives – which included divorce on the part of the wives and the children. It was necessary in the end to maintain a legal right for an alimony or alimony-only husband. In the old days alimony was held by alimony-only husbands whilst in the modern era alimony-only husbands can’t even get alimony-only husbands who are the main support group within the family.
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Unfortunately, the laws of socialization made marriage,‘it will be assumed that the husband is entitled to alimony on an absolute footing. If he gets alimony and pays for alimony, or if even alimony-only husbands become the dominant force within society (other than the first two) then then it is likely that this situation will still remain an issue.
So that is how it was in the old days.
As children you need your brother to be a father with whom you will
Following this sentence, Austen goes on to expand from this by explaining the way in which she thinks men were viewed when it comes to marriage, and explores the relationship between men and women throughout the first chapter,